Dave “Fingers” Rugendyke takes out the first club handicap of the year with a tenacious performance on Dangarsleigh road.
The Go group (Leo LeJambre, Dave “Ralph” Rubie, Jackie Weston and Jack Parker) were sent off 3 minutes ahead of another small group (Dave “Boundy” Boundy, Dave Jenner, Bob “Meat Hammer” Murison, Chicka Russell and Sophie Wallace. An early racing incident in the second group saw Chicka crash and he recorded a DNF along with Boundy. I hope you’re OK Chicka – perhaps let us know in a comment or if you’re really bad, one blink for yes and two for no.
At +5 were Adam Bourke, Wilf Keller, Britt Sisson and Freya Weston.
At +7: Bob Weston, Hayden Freeman and the Cannibal: John Scott-Hamilton.
At +8: Col Maciver, Dene Bourke, Pete “Captain” Creagan, Lachie McPhie and Roger Munday.
At +9:30: Andrew “Kirkie” Kirk, Dave Munday, Dave “Fingers” Rugendyke, Andrew “Swanny” Swan and Rob Tindale.
At +11 (scratch): Iron Mick Hoult, Sam “The Jennerator” Jenner, newcomer Greg Manton, Harrison “H” Munday and Brent “Best” Weston.
The go group decided early to stay together as long as they could, managing to stay away well past the turnaround (although they temporarily dropped Jackie Weston just after the culvert on the way out). However, the ominous figure of Iron Mick Hoult firing up Black Swan Hill and pounding some monstrous gear was a sign of their fate. Iron Mick was dragging what looked like most of the club behind him, like a shark with a whole school of pilot fish. The image spooked the early leaders. They put in two solid efforts with the helpful tail wind trying to get Jack Parker up over the monument hill but they were caught in the early foothills past the bridge. Jack and Leo managed to grab onto the group but Ralph was left gasping and was dropped.
Fingers Rugendyke says he spent the last part of the race barely hanging on and unable to take a turn at the front, but threw everything he had in a final early sprint from the last rise. His sudden turn of speed (well, maybe he was better rested than the others) was unmatchable and he sprinted to victory. Sam “The Jennerator” Jenner brought home 2nd, The Cannibal in 3rd. Harrison Munday put on a good performance to come in 4th and Col Maciver was 5th. At least that’s what I think this result sheet says, I’m not sure what written language Jason “Knobbies” Blanch uses: it might not be english.
Fastest time of the day went to Sam Jenner.